General Discussions

[madbluboy]

Hope you don't chastise Republicans for taking King's/Queens's bday, non-christians for taking Easter/Christmas, non-horseracing fans for Melbourne cup etc.

I don't give a rats about Australia day, never have, never will.  There is a jigoistic tone creeping into Australia and I am not a fan.  Got given tickets to the basketball the other day.  Phoenix v Wildcats.  The National anthem was sung - no idea why - it was just a h&a game.  Totally unnecessary.

I saw the start of the semi finals on TV - they were singing the National Anthem for a game of tennis.  I wondered why, but will give them grace as it is Australia day.  I'll be bemused if they play it before the semis tomorrow.

Don't get me wrong - we live in the a great country, I love it here, just don't need 'patriotism'.

We are a great country but you hate everything about us.

[Lods]

I don't give a rats about Australia day, never have, never will.  There is a jigoistic tone creeping into Australia and I am not a fan. 

Like anything else, there are probably a whole lot of levels of 'patriotism.'
And like other things it is usually the extreme levels that get highlighted.

What I suspect is occurring, and why it may seem to be more prominent, is a bit of a 'kick-back' from folks who are resentful of their traditional values and opinions being challenged.

People rarely change those.
They're pretty much entrenched by life experiences...(or lack of)
Challenging them either drives them underground or they hit back with enhanced expressions of 'patriotism'

Real progress occurs through generational change.
I consider myself pretty much middle of the road on most issues.
I'm a little bit more patriotic and conservative on some issues, very liberal on others.
I'm much less conservative, than my parents and their generation...but my own children are much more liberal than myself.

[dodge]

Not at all, NBB.  Am very lucky to have been born here.  If I hated it, I would go elsewhere.

[PaulP]

I understand where dodge is coming from. You can reach a tipping point with nationalism where it becomes an ugly force. Australia is hardly alone is promoting this kind of low brow self exhalation. All countries do it.

[Lods]

I can't think of too many countries that don't do it for at least some day or time of the year.

In the year 2525 when there is no race, religion, or nations...well, we'll probably have a whole lot of other problems to deal with...on the new planet.

[LP]

In the year 2525 when there is no race, religion, or nations...well, we'll probably have a whole lot of other problems to deal with...on the new planet.

If anybody thinks a new planet might make things better that best watch a series or two of The Expanse! ;D

In my opinion trouble is caused by social or political politics, usually with some underlying motivation, not typically by difference. Difference is just the label used to disguise motive.

[PaulP]

I can't think of too many countries that don't do it for at least some day or time of the year.

In the year 2525 when there is no race, religion, or nations...well, we'll probably have a whole lot of other problems to deal with...on the new planet.

If people didn't use race, religion etc., they would find something else. Paul Tillich once said that all institutions are inherently demonic, by which I think he means that all institutions are a mess, either at the start or some later point. And the reason they're a mess is because they have people in them, and people are a mess.

[Baggers]

I can't think of too many countries that don't do it for at least some day or time of the year.

In the year 2525 when there is no race, religion, or nations...well, we'll probably have a whole lot of other problems to deal with...on the new planet.

Zager and Evans send their regards. 

[Baggers]

I understand where dodge is coming from. You can reach a tipping point with nationalism where it becomes an ugly force. Australia is hardly alone is promoting this kind of low brow self exhalation. All countries do it.

I also get where Roger the Dodger is coming from. MBB old son, Dodge specified one area of this nation that concerned him... deeply - jingoism. Same thing concerns me. And as Principal LODS noted, patriotism is a spectrum, and most of us are probably where he is, in the middle - proud of our country but not oblivious or in denial of faults or very potential faults. Hard right patriotism is dangerous. Very dangerous.

[Baggers]

If people didn't use race, religion etc., they would find something else. Paul Tillich once said that all institutions are inherently demonic, by which I think he means that all institutions are a mess, either at the start or some later point. And the reason they're a mess is because they have people in them, and people are a mess.

Beat me to it, Pauly. When you have the controlling creatures of a planet (us - humans), and those creatures are fundamentally imperfect (to be polite) you can only expect varying degrees of, as you note, 'mess.' We spend most of our lives in damage control.